Offhand, the list could perhaps be better named, grouping “intellectuals” in the academic sense of the word together with journalists, writers of fiction and at least one US Army general. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating perspective on the luminaries who shape public discourse around the world in some shape or form.

That and it’s quite fun just going through the roster just to see how many “intellectuals” one is familiar with. In my case, only about twenty-eight of the 100 FP had identified rang a bell. Whether that makes me more or less of a nerd than I already think I am I haven’t yet figured out, but I’m leaning towards “more”.